[ad_1]
EU Fee’s President Ursula von der Leyen holds a press convention forward the G20 and the COP26 (Glasgow Convention) within the Berlaymont, the EU Fee headquarter on October 28, 2021 in Brussels, Belgium.
Thierry Monasse | Getty Photos Information | Getty Photos
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen has advised CNBC that vitality sanctions in opposition to Russia are nonetheless an choice if the nation invades Ukraine.
When requested about the potential of imposing sanctions on Russian fuel large Gazprom, von der Leyen mentioned Saturday, “every part is on the desk.”
Europe imports round 40% of its fuel provide from Gazprom, the EU chief advised CNBC’s Hadley Gamble on the Munich Safety Convention, which von der Leyen described as a “dependency that isn’t sustainable.”
She mentioned she had been reaching out with success to various suppliers, akin to america.
“We had now, in January, the very best quantity of vitality deliveries [from elsewhere], and we all know by now that if there’s a decoupling of Russian fuel as a retaliation, we’re capable of make it by means of this winter with out Russian fuel however with provide from others and that is good,” von der Leyen mentioned.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has argued that any potential sanctions in opposition to Russia mustn’t embody vitality imports. Italy is among the many largest importers of Russian fuel within the European Union.
Von der Leyen maintained that it was necessary to not rule out any choices, noting that two-thirds of Russia’s vitality exports go to Europe and this accounts for a big quantity of Russia’s price range. She argued that it was, due to this fact, not a “good transfer” for Russia to decouple Europe from its fuel provide.
Von der Leyen added that she had reassured Draghi that Europe would supply fuel from elsewhere and that there was a pipeline community by means of the continent to “carry the required fuel to Italy in order that Italy can also be on the secure facet.”
Discussing the specter of a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, von der Leyen mentioned “all of us need that diplomacy can have victory, however we put together for the worst.”
President Joe Biden mentioned on Friday that the U.S. believes Putin has determined to hold out an assault on Ukraine “within the coming days.”
[ad_2]
Source link